Spying on the Bomb: American Nuclear Intelligence from Nazi Germany to Iran and North Korea

PUBLISHER

Norton

CITY

New York, NY

DATE PUBLISHED

2006

ISBN

978-0-393-05383-8

This book provides a comprehensive, fascinating history of United States intelligence on any nation that appeared to have a nuclear weapons program from 1944 until 2005. Using a variety of sources, including declassified U.S. government documents, the author, a senior fellow at the National Security Archive, provides details on German, Soviet, British, Chinese, French, Indian, South African, Israeli, Libyan, Pakistani, Iraqi, Iranian, and North Korean (DPRK) nuclear efforts. The content includes descriptions of human intelligence (HUMIT) efforts as well as technical methods of spying including seismology, radiological analysis, and reconnaissance by satellites and aircraft. The account of intelligence successes and failures describes the roles of scientific and government officials in each nation’s program along with the political and diplomatic reactions of the United States to nuclear intelligence. A recurring theme is that motivations for nations to acquire nuclear weapons have remained constant: threats from potential adversaries, status in the international community, and national pride. Extensive endnotes provide a rich bibliography of references.